Council

Alex MacKenzie

Chair

Alex is a clinical lead in acute physiotherapy in NHS Grampian. As clinical lead, she is deputy lead for physiotherapy in the acute sector of NHS Grampian. Previously she worked in acute oncology and haematology, both roles as part of a job share. Alex has been a steward for most of her career and a regional steward for Scotland. She has a keen interest in trade unionism, having chaired both the National Group of Regional Stewards and the CSP Industrial Relations Committee, and has participated in TUC conferences. Most recently, Alex has spent two years as Chair of the Governance Review Group of the CSP. 

Term of office: 2018 – 2022

Leanne Antoine

Leanne is the director of Distinct Physiotherapy, an independent MSK service based in Hertfordshire. She started her career in the NHS as a physiotherapy assistant moving on to complete a physiotherapy degree and eventually an MSc in Neuromusculoskeletal Advanced Physiotherapy. Leanne’s personal and professional interests are matters related to health and wellness, and equity, diversity and belonging, and she can be found publicly speaking about them in various environments. She is also a spokesperson for the CSP and has made several public - facing invaluable contributions to this role.

Ishmael Beckford

Ishmael is a director at Vita Health Group, an independent provider of physical and mental health services. His clinical background is MSK, primarily within private practice and occupational health. Ishmael has undertaken leadership roles including as a clinical manager and operations lead and has worked away from Physio as a service lead in an Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) service. Ishmael’s professional interests include clinical operations, equity, diversity and belonging,  and sustainability. Ishmael is an active member of the CSP’s Black, Asian and minority ethnic network; sits on the Charitable Trust’s Education Awards Panel and support students as a Kingston University Beyond Barriers mentor. 

James Benson

James is a neurological physiotherapist working in a thriving private practice in the Midlands. James offers a comprehensive treatment programme that can include the Bobath technique, Functional Electrical Stimulation, Saeboflex® and hydrotherapy. He is also skilled at assessing all aspects of tone and spasticity and a competent injector of Botox® for limb spasticity. As an active member of the CSP, James was awarded a prestigious CSP Service Excellence Award in 2015. 

Term of office: 2018 – 2022

Justine Croxton

Justine is currently working as a patient safety, innovation and governance lead for Defence Primary Healthcare. She qualified from Manchester School of Physiotherapy and worked across England and Scotland. Completing a Masters in Quality Improvement led her from leading teams in elective orthopaedics and working as an arthroplasty practitioner to a role as a Senior Improvement lead in Glasgow. She has been a regional Health and safety rep for over five years and was an active member of the Scottish Board. 

Sarah Morton

Sarah is head of therapies and professional head of physiotherapy in Gloucestershire Health and Care NHSFT, she is also Chief AHP Professional Lead for Gloucestershire Integrated Care System. These roles are helping to ensure that physiotherapy within Gloucestershire is positioned to deliver national strategic direction at a local system level.

Term of office: 2018 – 2022

Reshma Patel

Reshma Patel is a clinical business unit manager, managing specialist services in the community. She has extensive experience in MSK management both in the NHS and private sector. She has a keen interest in leadership and management and is keen to develop leadership skills from the outset. Reshma graduated from Essex University in 2008 and completed her MSc in advanced neuromusculoskeletal physiotherapy at Kings College London in 2012. She is currently undergoing her MBA training at the University of Hertfordshire. 

Dr Karen Robb

Karen is the programme lead for personalised care and end of life care in cancer for the North East London Cancer Alliance. Karen has been a chartered physiotherapist for nearly 30 years and is one of a handful of people to hold a consultant physiotherapist role in cancer care. Karen is no longer in a clinical role and now supports the rollout of high-quality personalised care and support for people living with and beyond cancer. She works with a wide range of NHS and non-NHS stakeholder groups, and uses every opportunity to promote the important role of physiotherapists and AHPs. Karen is also a Body Control Pilates teacher and educator, and maintains a small clinical and research portfolio.

Term of office: 2018 – 2022

Alexandra Spearritt

Alex is the deputy divisional director of allied health professions, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Trust.  She has worked in both NHS and private sectors, across adult, paediatric, in-patient, out-patient and community settings as a clinician, in managerial roles and more recently in her professional leadership role.  Alex is an active member of the CSP having been a CSP health and safety rep, workplace steward, and regional steward. She has a keen interest in trade unionism and is passionate about equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging and AHP leadership development in healthcare. 

Marie-Clare Wadley

Marie-Clare is a clinical specialist in musculoskeletal conditions with a specialist interest in advanced practice, and is currently working on First Contact Physiotherapy in MSK. She has been a clinical lead specialising in MSK since 2004, having started her physiotherapy career in 1994 as a technical instructor and qualified at the University of Southampton in 2002. She has a special interest in using acupuncture alongside manual and exercise-based therapy and a passion for sport, having worked with rugby, polo, equestrian and hockey teams. Marie-Clare graduated with an MSc in Clinical Health Care at Oxford Brookes University in 2014, having studied advanced rehabilitation, advanced history-taking and assessment, diagnostic reasoning and evidence-based practice. 

Term of office: 2018 – 2022

Katie Wilkie, Vice-Chair

Katie is an advanced physiotherapy practitioner with over 25 years’ experience dedicated to neurological physiotherapy, currently working in a multi-disciplinary neurological rehabilitation outpatient team in Edinburgh. Katie has been involved in CSP voluntary roles throughout her career. She also served as a workplace steward for 11 years and as a regional steward for eight, serving on the CSP Industrial Relations Committee and Scottish Board as a regional representative. Katie completed two years in the role of Board chair and has served on the CSP Council for the six years.  

Term of office: 2018 – 2022